The Carruthers Observatory, a compact satellite designed on BAE Systems' adaptable spacecraft platform, is poised to embark on its mission from the Lagrange Point 1 (L1). This strategic orbital position, about 1 million miles from Earth towards the Sun, will enable the observatory to utilize its cutting-edge UV imaging technology to study the exosphere, the Earth's outermost atmospheric layer.
The study aims to uncover how this layer reacts to solar-induced space weather. Significantly, Carruthers is set to become the first small-scale satellite to operate at L1 and to provide ongoing observations of the Earth's exosphere.
The project, initially known as the Global Lyman-alpha Imager of the Dynamic Exosphere (GLIDE), was renamed in 2020 to honor Dr. George R. Carruthers. Dr. Carruthers is celebrated for his pioneering contributions, including the development of the lunar-based telescope that captured the first-ever images of Earth's geocorona from space during the Apollo 16 mission.
Dr. Alberto Conti, BAE Systems Space and Mission Systems' vice president and general manager of Civil Space, highlighted the mission's significance: "By advancing our understanding of atmospheric dynamics in relation to space's variable conditions, we honor Dr. Carruthers' enduring legacy. Space weather affects Earth profoundly, from the spectacle of the aurora borealis to critical disturbances in satellite communication and power grids. This satellite is set to enrich our knowledge and enhance our preparedness for solar phenomena."
This mission represents a collaborative effort involving NASA and the Space Sciences Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley. The latter spearheaded the development of the primary scientific instrument, with contributions from Utah State University's Space Dynamics Laboratory and the Liege Space Center. Dr. Lara Waldrop from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, is leading the mission as the principal investigator.
BAE Systems' role extended beyond crafting the satellite bus; it led the integration and environmental testing phases to guarantee the satellite's resilience against launch conditions and its functionality in the spatial environment.
The satellite's launch is slated for 2025, aligning with NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission, where it will be a part of a rideshare initiative.
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